RAW MATERIAL FOR SYNTHETIC LUBRICATING OIL AND ITS PREPARATION

Synthetic lubricant base stocks comprise oligomers prepared by reacting an olefin composition comprising a linear olefin having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, in the presence of an acid montmorillonite clay and of anisole, diphenyl ether or diphenyl, thereby providing products which additionally contain an alkyl-substituted diphenyl, diphenyl ether or anisole having the formula: wherein R is a group of the formula and where R , R , R , R R and R are each H or an alkyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R , R , R , R , R and R is an alkyl group containing from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R is an alkyl group having 10 to 24 carbon atoms; and R and R are each H or an alkyl group having up to 10 carbon atoms. The resulting product may be completely or partially hydrogenated.